Faucet re-seating tool



March 3, 1964 5. J. SHAMES ETAL 3,122,969

FAUCET RE-SEATING TOOL Filed April 10, 1961 'Illillll =1 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,122,269 FAUCET RESEATING T961 Sidney .I. Shames,1? Agnes Circle, and Harold Shames, Agnes Circle, both of Ardsley, N.Y.Filed Apr. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 101,931 6 Claims. (6i. 90-125) Thisinvention relates to a faucet re-seating tool.

Faucet re-seating tools have heretofore been known in a variety oftypes. In one such tool, after the valve stem of the faucet has beenremoved, the gland, or cap nut, of the faucet is reassembled on thestern of the tool for reconnection to the faucet body for the purpose ofassisting in centering the tool to effect proper reseating of the valveseat. However, in such devices, the stem of the tool is generallysmaller than the smallest interior dimension of the cap nut and,therefore, there is bound to be wobble in the tool and the tool does notreseat squarely.

In another such tool, a tapered self-threading cone is provided on thestem of the tool for threaded connection to the faucet bonnet. However,since the thread on the cone is always a helix, it can never align thetool perfectly square with the valve seat of the faucet. Anotherdeficiency with this tool is that if the faucet bonnet is weak the forcefrom the cone in attaching to the bonnet may seriously damage thefaucet.

A further deficiency of both said tools is that in recent faucetconstructions the bonnet is quite shallow and there is little verticalspace between the bonnet and the faucets valve seat. It has beenobserved that the aforenoted com mercial tools cannot be used with suchfaucet constructions.

Thus, one object of this invention is to provide an improved faucetre-seating tool that avoids the deficiencies hereinabove noted and thatconnects to the interior of the faucet bonnet to thereby center andalign the faucet seat cutter to cause the tool to re-seat squarely.

Another object of this invention is to provide a faucet reseating toolwherein the stem of the tool is used both to effect connection of thetool to the faucet bonnet and to operate the valve seat cutter after thetool has been connected to the faucet bonnet.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a faucet re-seatingtool with radial expandable means for selectively connecting the tool intrue centered assembly to a faucet bonnet, and to thereby squareup theseat cutter with the valve seat that is to be cut.

A further object of this invention is to provide a faucet re-seatingtool that is characterized by simplicity and effectiveness of operationand by economy of construction.

And a further object of this invention is to provide an improved cutterfor use with a faucet re-seating tool.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the tool constructed in accordancewith our invention;

FIGUL 2 is a perspective exploded view of the parts of the tool shown inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical axialcross-section showing the tool in FIGURES l and 2 being connected to afaucet bonnet;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FlGURE 3 showing the tool of FEGURES 1 and2 being used to re-seat the faucets valve seat;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIGURE 4 showinguse of the tool with a faucet having a smaller bonnet and valve seatthan in the faucet 'ice shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, and also showingfurther use of the improved cutter.

Referring now to the drawings, the faucet re-seating tool is generallyindicated at 1%, and the parts thereof are individually best seen in theexploded view of FIG- URE 2. The parts of tool it includes an elongated,generally smooth-walled, cylindrical stem, or shaft, 12 whose upper endhas a handle 14 connected thereto, and whose lower end has a threadedstud 16 extending axially therefrom. The threaded stud 16 is of reduceddiameter relative to stem 12, thereby defining an abutment shoulder 1%at the lower end of the smoothwalled shaft 12. A portion of stem 12,spaced a relatively short distance above the lower end of said stem, isof slightly reduced diameter as seen at 1'9, and that portion of thestern has a diametrical bore, or recess, 2t; therethrough.

A coupling pin 22 is provided, the said pin 22 being part of a singlewire that is shaped to define the pin 22, a connecting shank 24, and aclosed loop 26. The loop 26 is of greater inner dimensions than the sizeof shaft 12 so as to freely fit thereon as shown in the figures.

There is provided an abutment plate, generally indicated at 2%, whoseedge is hex shaped for convenience in gripping and having fiat bearingportions 29 on the under side thereof, and having a central threaded hub38, which is adapted for threading connection with a ferrule that isgenerally indicated at 352. The ferrule is exteriorly threaded with aleft hand thread and provides a hollow stem, or sleeve means, 34 wmchdefines a smooth-walled central longitudinal bore 3" therethrough. Thelower end of sleeve 34 has an outwardly extending flange 38. The sleeve34 is provided with diametrically disposed openings at therein which areadjacent the upper end of the sleeve 34. In the form specifically shown,the openings 463 are elongated axially to open through the upper edge ofthe sleeve 34.

There is provided an upper rigid washer 42 that slidably surroundssleeve 34 and which is adapted for bearing engagement with said bearingsurfaces 29 of the abutment plate. An elongated, inner, resilient andexpandable sleeve 46 is provided surrounding the ferrule 32. Anelongated, outer, esilient and expandable sleeve 48 is providedsurrounding said inner sleeve 46. A rigid lower washer 5% is provided onferrule 32 positioned axially between resilient sleeves 44 and 46 andthe flange 38, with said washer 5%) bearing against flange 38.

A faucetseat annular cutter disc, indicated at 52, provides one facethereof with relatively coarse cutter teeth 54 and the opposite facethereof with relatively fine cutter teeth 56. The disc is centrallytapped for simple screw connection to stud 16. When the tool 10 ispackaged for sale, it is preferably supplied not only with a relativelylarge cutter disc 52 but also with a smaller cutter disc, showngenerally at 52a.

In the assembly of the tool it for use, the washer 50, the resilientsleeves K and 4% and the washer 42, are slidably fitted onto ferrule 32and then the abutment plate 28 is threaded onto ferrule 32, therebyproviding a radially expansible and contractible attaching-and-centeringmeans. The stern i2 is extended through loop 26 and is then slidablyextended through bore as of the sleeve means 34, and an appropriatecutter disc, 52 or 52a, is threaded onto stud 16 into abutment withshoulder 18. When the shaft 12 is drawn upwardly through sleeve 34 toits uppermost position, as seen in FIGURE 3, then the recess 2t may beselectively aligned with an opening 50 in ferrule 32. In that positionthe pin 22 may be fitted through the opening 50 and into the recess 2ftto a locking position as seen in FIGURE 3, where the stem 12 is lockedto ferrule 32, so that rotation of stem 12 effects joint rotation withferrule 32 relative to the abutment plate 28.

FIGURES 3 to 5 illustrate the manner of use of the tool it and there isillustrated, in each of those figures, a faucet generally indicated at663 whose gland, or cap nut, has been removed to thereby expose theinterior of the upstanding bonnet 62 of the faucet. As shown, the bonnetis provided with exterior threads to which the gland, or cap nut,screw-attaches. The interior periphery of the bonnet 62 may be smooth ormay be provided with screw threads depending upon the construction ofthe particular faucet. The faucet has a lateral extending dischargespout 66, and an interiorly disposed valve seat 68 which lies in a planeperpendicular to the axis of the tubular bonnet 62. The upright axiallength of the interior of the bonnet 62 may be shallow and the spacebetween the bonnet 62 and the valve seat till, as indicated on T t, mayalso be quite shallow.

in the operation of the tool It the expandable attaching-and-centeringmeans portion of the tool is entered into the bonnet 62. The abutmentplate 23, or the upper washer d2 abutting plate 23, engages the upperedge of bonnet d2. Then with the plate 23 gripped by one hand, and withpin 22 in position as in FEGURE 3, the shaft 12 is rotated clockwise, orto the right as shown by the arrow, and since the shaft 12 is coupled tothe ferrule 32 by means of pin 22, the flange 38 on ferrule 32 is causedto advance axially toward abutment plate 28, thereby exerting forces onthe resilient sleeve members 46 and 43 which cause said sleeves toexpand radially outwardly and to frictionally engage and grip the innerperipheral surface of the bonnet 62. Since the attaching means engagesthe cylindrical inner walls of the bonnet 62, this disposes the ferrule32 concentrically of bonnet 2 and with the longitudinal axis of theelongated sleeve means 34 coaxial of the bonnet and perpendicular to theplane of the valve seat (58.

After the tool 1% has been thus secured to the faucet 60, the pin 22 iswithdrawn such as in FIGURE 4, thereby uncoupling shaft 12 from theferrule 32 and permitting the shaft, or stem 12, to slide axiallythrough ferrule 32 to bring the cutter 52 into cutting engagement withthe valve seat 63. Since the shaft 12 is coaxial of sleeve means 34, itsaxis is squared up perpendicular to the plane of valve seat 68. Bypressing down On handle 1.4 force is transmitted to the cutter 52, andby rotating shaft 12 in the clockwise direction, as indicated by thearrow in FIGURE 4, the cutting and re-seating operation is effected.Teeth d are used in a coarse cutting operation, while finishing oif maybe effected using teeth 56. In order to detach the tool, the shaft 12 ismoved upwardly until recess 12 is again aligned with an opening 41?, thepin 22 is inserted to re-couple the parts, and then by rotating shaft 12counter clockwise, the expansion forces on sleeves 46 and 43 arewithdrawn, thereby permitting release of tool it) from faucet 60.

In FIGURES 3 and 4, the tool is shown being used with a faucet 6% havinga relatively large bonnet 62, so that the two resilient sleeves and 48are both used and are positioned concentric of each other to provide foreffecting a gripping engagement with the interior periphery of bonnet62. In FEGURE 5 the tool is shown being used with a faucet 6%, whereinthe bonnet 62' is of smaller internal dimension than the bonnet shown inFIGURES 3 and 4. With faucet es of FEGURE 5, only the inner, or smaller,sleeve 46 is utilized to effect the gripping and centering of the toolin the bonnet s2.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show the cutter 52 arranged on stem 12 so that thecoarse cutter teeth 54 are in position to effect a re-seating operationon valve seat :53. In FIG- URE 5 where faucet till is smaller, thesmaller cutter 52a is shown mounted on the lower end or" stem 12. FIG-URE 5 further illustrates the use of the fine cutting teeth 56' ineffecting a re-seating operation. It w ll be understood that the cutterto be used is the one of sufficient size to overlie the entire valveseat. The coarse teeth or line teeth are used depending upon the amountof cutting needed to be performed.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of thisinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from theinvention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to coverall such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit andscope of the invention.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

1. A tool for re-seating a faucet valve seat that is located within afaucet body having a bonnet generally concentric With and spaced fromsaid valve seat, said tool comprising, in combination: selectivelyradially expandable and contractible, elongated, attaching-and-centeringmeans adapted to be entered into and to grippingly engage the interiorperiphery of a faucet bonnet, elongated sleeve means carried by saidattaching-and-centering means coaxially thereof, an elongated shaftaxially slidably and rotatably disposed within said sleeve means andextending axially outwardly of both ends of said sleeve means and ofsaid attaching-and-centering means, said shaft cooperating with thesleeve means to be maintained coaxial of said attaching-andcenteringmeans, a faucet-seat cutter car.'ed on said elongated shaft and spacedaxially of and adjacent one end of said attaching-and-centering means,said sleeve means being manipulable to effect selective radial expansionand contraction of said attaching-andcenterirn means, and coupling meansspaced axially of and adjacent the other end of saidattacl1ing-and-centering means and including registrable elements onsaid shaft and said sleeve means and a coupling element cooperating withsaid elements when registered for selectively coupling the said shaft tothe sleeve means to selectively manipulate the sleeve means.

2. A tool for re-seating a faucet valve seat that is located within afaucet body having a bonnet generally concentric with and spaced fromsaid valve seat, said tool comprising, in combination: selectivelyradially expandable and contractible, elongated, attaching-and-centeringmeans adapted to be entered into and to grippingly engage the interiorperiphery of a faucet bonnet, elongated sleeve means carried by saidattaching-and-centering means coaxially thereof, an elongated shaftaxially slidably and rotatably disposed within said sleeve means andextending axially outwardly of both ends of said sleeve means and ofsaid attaching-and-centering means, said shaft cooperating with thesleeve means to be maintained coaxial of said attaching-and-centeringmeans, a faucet-seat cutter carried on said elongated shaft and spacedaxially of and adjacent one end of said attaching-and-centering means,said sleeve means being manipulable to effect selec-. tive radialexpansion and contraction of said attachingand-centering means, saidsleeve means defining a radial opening therein spaced axially of andadjacent the other end of the said attachingand-centering means, saidshaft having a recess therein that is adapted to be selectively alignedwith said radial opening in the sleeve means, and a pin selectivelyinsertable into said recess in the shaft and protruding through saidradial opening in the sleeve means for coupling the sleeve means to theshaft for selective joint rotation.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pin is connected to anenlarged loop that loosely surrounds the shaft to permit manipulation ofthe pin while preventing misplacing of the pin.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said recess in the shaft isspaced from the cutter such that when the said recess is aligned withthe radial opening in the sleeve means the cutter is positioned axiallyclosely adjacent the sleeve means.

5. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said attaching-and-centeringmeans includes an exteriorly threaded elongated ferrule with anoutwardly extending flange at one end thereof, elongated elastic sleevemeans concentrio with said ferrule between the ends thereof, annularabutment plate means threaded to the ferrule and providing for relativeaxial movement of the ferrule flange toward and away from said platemeans, said plate means being of a dimension greater than the interiordimension of a faucet bonnet, so that said plate means are adapted tooverlie and engage at least a portion of a faucet bonnet to which thedevice is to attach.

6. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said attaching-and-centeringmeans includes an exteriorly threaded elongated ferrule with anoutwardly extending flange at one end thereof, elongated elastic sleevemeans on said ferrule between the ends thereof, annular abutment platemeans threaded to the ferrule and providing for relative axial movementof the ferrule flange toward and away from said plate means, said platemeans being of a dimension greater than the interior dimension of afaucet bonnet,

so that said plate means are adapted to overlie and engage at least aportion of a faucet bonnet, and bearing washers on said ferrule engagingboth ends of said elastic sleeve means and disposed between said elasticsleeve means and both said ferrule flange and said plate means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,746,497 Thompson May 22, 1956 2,830,500 Schultis Apr. 15, 19582,833,093 Shesler May 6, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 39,347 Norway Dec. 16,1921 189,003 Great Britain Nov. 23, 1922 1,103,770 France June 1, 1955

1. A TOOL FOR RE-SEATING A FAUCET VALVE SEAT THAT IS LOCATED WITHIN AFAUCET BODY HAVING A BONNET GENERALLY CONCENTRIC WITH AND SPACED FROMSAID VALVE SEAT, SAID TOOL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: SELECTIVELYRADIALLY EXPANDABLE AND CONTRACTIBLE, ELONGATED, ATTACHING-AND-CENTERINGMEANS ADAPTED TO BE ENTERED INTO AND TO GRIPPINGLY ENGAGE THE INTERIORPERIPHERY OF A FAUCET BONNET, ELONGATED SLEEVE MEANS CARRIED BY SAIDATTACHING-AND-CENTERING MEANS COAXIALLY THEREOF, AN ELONGATED SHAFTAXIALLY SLIDABLY AND ROTATABLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID SLEEVE MEANS ANDEXTENDING AXIALLY OUTWARDLY OF BOTH ENDS OF SAID SLEEVE MEANS AND OFSAID ATTACHING-AND-CENTERING MEANS, SAID SHAFT COOPERATING WITH THESLEEVE MEANS TO BE MAINTAINED COAXIAL OF SAID ATTACHING-AND-CENTERINGMEANS, A FAUCET-SEAT CUTTER CARRIED ON SAID ELONGATED SHAFT AND SPACEDAXIALLY OF AND ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID ATTACHING-AND-CENTERING MEANS,SAID SLEEVE MEANS BEING MANIPULABLE TO EFFECT SELECTIVE RADIAL EXPANSIONAND CONTRACTION OF SAID ATTACHING-ANDCENTERING MEANS, AND COUPLING MEANSSPACED AXIALLY OF AND ADJACENT THE OTHER END OF SAIDATTACHING-AND-CENTERING MEANS AND INCLUDING REGISTRABLE ELEMENTS ON SAIDSHAFT AND SAID SLEEVE MEANS AND A COUPLING ELEMENT COOPERATING WITH SAIDELEMENTS WHEN REGISTERED FOR SELECTIVELY COUPLING THE SAID SHAFT TO THESLEEVE MEANS TO SELECTIVELY MANIPULATE THE SLEEVE MEANS.